Signal.



C. W. MONAHAN.

' SIGNAL; APPLICATION FILEDUAN. 31, I917- I LQ5QQ88 Patented Jan. '1, 1918;

INVENTOR I g TTORNEY- -:"rnn srarusraannr @FFiQE.

GI-IARLES W. MONAHANQOF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

Application filed January 31, 1917. Serial No. 145,751.

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. MONA- 'HAN, a citizen of the United States,- residing vide a system capable of giving three distinct signals in the cab with a minimum number of clrcults and 'mechanlcal parts.

An ob e'ct of the invention is the construction and associating of the contact rails with the train carried mechanism so that the passage of current from the track circuit to the train carried circuit will be insured.

Another feature of the invention is to accomplish the foregoing result in such a manner that the formation of ice will not interfere'with the contact of the surfaces.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in the manner of forming the first contact rail of the series so that the train carried mechanism will immediately be set into operation upon entering the block.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the system.

Fig. 2 is a anism.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modified form of shoe.

Again referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the track way adjacent to which is arranged a series of contact rails 2 shown in this particular instance as three in number and spaced apart laterally and longitudinally with certain ends thereof overlapping as indicated at 8 and 4.

The first contact rail 5 of the series is curved laterally an amount greater than the lateral distance between the series for a purpose to be described later.

The contact rail 5 consists of two portions 6 and 7 insulated from each other as illustrated at 8 so that in the initial setting of the train carried mechanism the passage of current will be prevented.

Arranged in the cab of the locomotive are three signaling lamps R G, and W, indicating red, green and white.

detail view of the switch mech- --The R lamp is grounded upon the locomo- "tive by the conductor 9 while the other terminal thereof'is connected by a conductor 10 'toa-contact 11. The G lamp is grounded upon the locomotive by the conductor 9 and is connected to a second contact 12 by the;

conductor 13; while the W lamp is con-- nected by a conductor 14 to'a third contact 15 and grounded upon the locomotive by the conductor 9.

The-contacts 11, 12 and 15 are arranged in alinement so as to be successively engaged by the switch 16 adjustably mounted upon one end of the plunger 17 by the nuts 18. This adjusting feature insures the proper enand gagement between the contacts 11, 12

15 in the movement of the plunger 17. Op-

posing the movement of the switch is a coil spring 19 bearing upon the nuts 18 and against the bearing 20 that supports the plunger for slidable movement. This plunger has one end portion bent at an angle to form an arm 21 depending to a distance to engage the sides of the contact rails.

Cooperating with the contact rails are the conductors 22 each having one end connected to a contact rail and its other end connected to a contact 23 arranged in the path of movement of the contact finger 24 carried by the semaphore blade 25. This contact finger is connected to one of the rails of the trackway by a conductor 26 in which is arranged a battery 27.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that upon a train entering the block the arm 21 will engage the curved surface of the contact rail 5 and as a result the plunger 17 will slide a distance great enough to place the switch 16 upon the contact 11 so that should the semaphore arm 25 be in danger position the R lamp will be illuminated immediately the arm engages the portion 6. If instead the semaphore is in clear position the lamps will be deenergized until the arm engages the last rail of the series.

A very important feature of my invention is the use of the spring 19 in conjunction with the feature of the overlapping end portions of the contact rails so that the arm 21 will be automatically forced into engagement with the contact rails.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of my invention wherein the contact rails 28 are provided with an overlapping flange 29 for Y protecting the contact surface 30. Adapted to engage the contact surface is a shoe 31 detachably supported .uponthe arm":

It is to beunderstood that the structural embodiment of the invention as a whole and its various features as shown is merely'illustrative and not restrictive since I am well aware that many ofthe details or construction can be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not desire to be limited in these particulars or in any others except as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is r l. A railway signaling system comprising a track, including a series of laterally spaced contact rails, a train carried circuit and a switch mechanically operated by the rails and adapted to pass current from the rails to the train carried circuit.

2. A railway signaling system comprising a series of contact rails spaced apart laterally and longitudinally, a partial circuit for each contact rail, a series of partial signaling circuits each having one terminal grounded and its other terminal formed into a con- 30 tact point, a signaling device in each circuit and a switch cooperating with'thecontact points and constructed to be mechanically operated by the. contact. rails.

3. In a railway signaling system, a series of contact rails spaced laterally and longitudinally, the advance rail being curved laterally for a portion of its length, and a switch constructed to engage said rails and be operated thereby.

4. In a railway signaling apparatus, in

combination, a series of contact rails spaced apart laterally and longitudinally with the ends thereof overlapping, the first ,rail of said series being curved laterally, a plunger mounted forsliding movement and having an arm arranged to engage .the rails and a switch, the movable element of which is connected to the plunger.

' 5. In a railway signaling apparatus, in combination, a series of contact rails spaced apart laterally and longitudinally with the ends thereof overlapping, the first rail of said series being curved laterally, a plunger mounted for sliding movement and having an arm arranged to engage the rails, a switch the movable element of which is connected to the plunger, and a spring acting upon the plunger for holding the switch open.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLEb WV. MON AHAN.

7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the FGommissioner' of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. a 

